In 2018, Sandra LaRose lost her 16-year-old daughter.
Kailynn was struck by a train while distracted by her phone. After fighting for her life for six days, she died from severe head trauma. Affected by the loss every day, Sandra has become a passionate road and rail safety advocate.
She's been travelling to various communities around Manitoba during Manitoba Public Insurance's Friends For Life speaker series. Sandra's stories show Manitobans how each choice made behind the wheel has a consequence by speaking to how their lives were touched by speeding, distracted, and impaired driving – the three major contributing factors to deaths on Manitoba roads.
"And for you to live a full, long life, and experience everything you deserve, you have to make smart choices," said LaRose. "One glance away, one beer, one distraction can end your life, your friend's, and affect everyone surrounding you. Friends, family, and strangers."
Young Manitobans are 2.4 times more likely to be involved in a severe collision involving alcohol impairment than other age groups. There were 2,951 collisions in Manitoba where speed was a factor in 2024, and there were 175 collisions in Manitoba involving impairment in 2024.
So far in 2025, there have been 60 fatalities on Manitoba roadways.
While the speaker series is focused on teens, LaRose says the message is the same for everyone on the roads.
Sandra says it's become a habit for some people to drink and drive or use their phone while driving.
Speaking of cell phone use, LaRose urges drivers to put their phones down while driving.
"You can disconnect, you're not going to miss out on anything," ended LaRose. "If you pick up that phone to answer a text, or to change a song, or answer the phone, and look away, there is no undo button; you can't get that back. Focus on the road, make it from point A to B. Don't miss out on life because that one glance away could change everything forever."
Everyone deserves to get to their destination safely.
